Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Minutes
November 3, 2021
To help us with the decision on when to return to face-to-face meetings only, please let Billie Jo Drake know if your agency is continuing the ban on face-to-face meetings. If still not attending in person, is there a timeline for when it is possible?
- Welcome: Fifteen members representing fifteen agencies attended. Billie Jo reported that we will continue to have our General Membership meetings at the Scottview Apartments; the December meeting will be at noon; beginning in January, we will meet at 1:00 p.m. In an effort to resume face-to-face only meetings, she will poll the membership to ascertain when we might be able to discontinue the Zoom meeting option. She also thanked the members for making a last minute location change due to the heating problems at the HBCAT office.
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Megan Rogers, Safehouse, noted that they have programs available for those in crisis situations; call 620-231-8251 for more information.
- Shana McClure, DCF, updated members on several programs available now or in the near future; consult www.dcf.ks.gov to get information. She also noted that LIEAP applications will be available in December.
- Michelle Stevenson, Fort Scott Early Childhood Program, noted that the Early Childhood Coalition is making good headway with school readiness. She provides in house support for children before they enter school; she has several openings.
- Christine Abbott, SEKansasWorks, noted that the recent Youth Summit had 94 participants; another summit will be planned for the spring. She has funding available for helping youth with careers. She continues to be available at the HBCAT office on Mondays.
- Tammy Alcantar, Crawford County Health Department, announced that WIC will be on Monday next week due to Veterans Day. She reminded members that there are incentives for those who successfully participate in the “Baby and Me – Tobacco Free” program.
- Jody Hoener, HBCAT, urged county residents to complete the HBCAT survey which is available until the end of November; survey can be accessed at HBCAT.org. There is an incentive to complete and submit the survey. Jody then introduced Rachel Carpenter.
- Rachel Carpenter, HBCAT, shared that the organization has developed three grant programs, funded by the Patterson Family Foundation, for minority, women-owned or low-income start-up businesses, restaurants and food retail, and farmer/ranchers. Rachel will be the program coordinator.
- Sandy Haggard, RSVP, informed members that she now has twelve volunteers in Bourbon County working at the Scottview Apartments and The Beacon.
- Allen Schellack, Compassionate Ministries and Salvation Army, reminded members that all monies raised in the Salvation Army bucket campaign will remain in Bourbon County; he can always use more volunteers to ring bells. Because Compassionate Ministries received a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation grant, he is able to help people with heaters and taxi tickets, as well as, provide help to the homeless.
- Allen also shared some news from Jackie Sellers, Bourbon County Senior Citizens: There will be no Meals on Wheels delivered on November 24 and 25; there will be no taxi service on November 25 and 26.
- Amanda Gilmore, Fort Scott Lighthouse, announced that they have a service on the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Scott Inn. They host a Bible study and prayer meeting every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at 728 Heylman.
- Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing Authority, has a waiting list for one-bedroom apartments but has several two and three-bedroom apartments ready for occupancy now. She also noted that the Kansas KEBA program is still taking applications for rental assistance.
- Elizabeth Schafer rejoiced that the handicapped swing donated by the Pioneer Kiwanians has now been installed at Gunn Park.
- Jean Tucker, Feeding Families in His Name, announced that she has 34 more days as the director of the program; then, a committee of volunteers will be taking over that duty. She noted that they were providing 300-350 meals each Wednesday and several other churches and organizations were helping with the process which has been in existence for ten years. Jean also introduced Chris Eshelman, minister of the First United Methodist Church
- Hannah Geneva, SEK Multi County Health Department, was unable to attend because they were doing a booster dose clinic at the health department. They are now offering COVID-19 booster vaccines; contact 620-223-4464 for further information/scheduling.
- Program: Stacy Dickerhood, Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging. This is a non-profit agency serving seniors (60+) in Allen, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson counties. The Area Agency on Aging provides attendant care and homemaker services to those individuals meeting functional and financial guidelines with the goal of keeping people in their homes. The agency also provides funding for information and assistance, Meals on Wheels, Medicare counseling, Legal Services, caregiver support, case management, and respite care. Additional information can be found at 620-431-2980 or 1-800-794-2440. The care giver support group in Fort Scott meets the third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. at Papa Don’s
- Open Forum: Nothing further came before the group.
- Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be December 1, 2021.